Tag: vegetariansoup

When I was younger and unattached, I spent close to a year in Thailand. I loved a million things about the country – the warmth, the people, and the food. The spices were so varied and complex, meaning I could eat the same type of food every day (soup) and yet always enjoy a variety of flavours. A good amount of food in Thailand is vegetarian, so I happily ate my way through the country without a problem. I remember it as being incredibly family friendly, so I’m dreaming of the day when I can take my little ones there on a holiday.

What I love most about this Tom Kha Tofu recipe is how easy it is to make: from pot to bowl, we’re talkin’ 10-15 minutes. What I also love about this soup is how spot on it is in terms of tasting exactly like thai takeaway. Everyone is hella impressed when I serve this! It’s pretty light, so I find it’s best to eat/ serve as a starter vs. a main.

It’s also a very clean recipe, and will definitely be a staple during my upcoming 2 week cleanse with naturopathic doctor Christina Carreau. Subbing in almond milk vs. pure coconut milk reduces the fat content.

(note: I doubled the recipe below so i had leftovers for lunch).

Ingredients

1 cup of coconut milk

3/4 cups of almond milk (original)

3 tbs green curry paste

3 cups of vegetable broth

2 tbsp tamari

1 cup thin sliced mushrooms

3 cups chopped broccoli

8 oz tofu, cubed

1 tsp. maple syrup

4 tbs lime juice

Fresh cilantro as a garnish

Directions

In a large pot, mix the coconut and almond milk, the green curry paste and the tamari. When it starts to boil, reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the broccoli, mushrooms and tofu. Cover again and cook for 10 minutes.

Turn off the stove and stir in maple syrup and lime juice. Serve and top with cilantro and a sliced lime

I’m about to embark on a 2 week cleanse with my naturopath Christina Carreau from Degen’s Health Group in Scarborough and the recipe below is part of her meal plan. To me, a spring cleanse is a great way to press the reset button in my body. I feel like I’m down with the clean eating part, but not drinking coffee (and, who are we kidding, wine) for 2 weeks is really challenging for me. I do it because the benefits are remarkable – after a cleanse I feel lighter, have more energy, I sleep better (and wake up easier…normally we’re talking multiple hits of the proverbial snooze button each morning), and develop a stronger connection to the food I’m preparing and eating.

The recipe below makes an enormous amount of soup. Enough to last you for several meals through out the week. Enjoy a large bowl with a side salad for dinner, or pack it up for lunch. Between meals, this is a great soup to warm up in a mug for a quick snack. It’s packed with veggies, so you know you’re getting ample nutrients. I tried to let the spices do the talking in this dish – the cinnamon and cayenne added such a great kick that I didn’t have to add much salt. I threw in a can of chick peas for an added fiber / protein boost.

Recipe from Angela Liddon’s Oh She Glows Cookbook.

Ingredients

1/4 cup water (or vegetable broth)

1/2 of a red onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 celery stalks, diced

3 medium carrots, diced

1 small head of broccoli, florets

1 cup chopped tomatoes

1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and minced

1 teaspoon turmeric (I used powdered)

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste (optional)

fine-grain sea salt (I used a few cranks of Himalayan pink salt ) and black pepper, to taste

6 cups water (or 4 cups vegetable broth + 2 cups water)

2 cups kale, de-stemmed and torn in pieces

1 cup purple cabbage, chopped

juice from ½ of a small lemon (or a whole lemon, depending how much lemon flavor you like)

Directions

In a large pot, add the water and turn on the heat to medium-high. After it’s hot, add the onion and garlic. Sauté for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the celery, carrots, broccoli, tomatoes and fresh ginger. Stir and cook for 3 minutes, adding in extra water or broth as needed (another ¼ cup). Stir in the turmeric, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper plus salt and pepper to taste. Add in the water or vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10- 15 minutes or until vegetables are soft. Add in the kale, cabbage and lemon juice near the last 2-3 minutes of cooking. Enjoy!

Feeling Lawless?

No one’s gonna call the cops on you if you switch up the kale for a gorgeous bunch of rainbow chard (or at least I got off lucky when I did this). I also threw in a can of chick peas, for kicks.

Amongst his many well-deserved titles, my husband has earned that of “Seasoner” in our household. I often prepare everything in my soups…prepping and roasting the veggies, making the stock, etc and then call him in to be my closer. The guy just has a way with spice. I discovered this hidden talent many years ago when we first started dating. He’d taken me out to Mongolian Grill (as one would) and he managed to create a masterpiece with the hundreds of seasoning options available at the buffet. I, on the other hand, found the process confusing and ended up making an inedible concoction. Cue my date, upgrading to the “all-you-can-eat” option, and saving the day with a new custom dish for me. The rest, dear reader, is history.

Directions: slice squash in half, scoop out seeds and place cut side down on baking sheet (parchment helps with clean up). Roast at 350 degrees (F) for about 45 mins or until squash is very soft when you poke with a fork. Allow to cool. Scoop out flesh and place in broth, along with apple and sweet potatoes. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and let simmer for 20 mins or until potatoes are soft. Allow to cool. Blend with immersion blender or in batches if you’re using a stand blender. Return to pot and put on low heat while adding spices, salt and earth balance. Allow to simmer 10 more mins, stir and serve!

Feeling Lawless? Squash is a must, but add whatever you have in the way of apples or pears (even apple sauce will do). Potatoes can be plain ‘ol potatoes if that’s what’s on hand. The extra fruit / veg in the soup really helps to thicken it up, but if you’re ok with a thinner end product, you can actually skip these all together. Re: spices, you’ll need a bit of S&P, but feel free to experiment with cinnamon, cumin, curry, fresh herbs and spices (basil and parsley are nice).